How does loneliness and boredom lead to overeating?
Loneliness and boredom are powerful triggers for overeating.
When we are lonely or bored, we can turn to food to distract ourselves from negative emotions. Food can provide a temporary sense of comfort which eased feelings of sadness and anxiety.
When we are lonely and bored, we are more likely to eat mindlessly. This is when we eat without paying attention to what we are eating or even how much we are eating.
The worst thing about being bored or alone at home is there are more opportunities to snack or eat when we have easy access to food in our cupboards.
As with anything to do with overeating, you need to find an alternative method to deal with negative emotions. Look for things you enjoy doing and can fill the gap immediately you think about food.
One of the best ways is to plan and keep healthy snacks within reach, to avoid the temptation of unhealthy eating when emotions take hold of you.
And them, as mentioned in previous articles, a support group or accountability buddy.
Loneliness and boredom have certain overlapping triggers which lead to overeating. I have come up with a list of things to do to steer you away from eating out of boredom and loneliness.
I can’t remember where I read this, but it stuck in my head:
“When I am hungry, I eat what I love. When I am bored, I do what I love”
If we stick to these words, the solution is right in front of us.
Write a list of things you’d like to do when you feel bored or lonely.
Create a space in your home in which eating is off limits. In my home, this is my bedroom. So when I feel bored, I head in there and grab a book to read or take my computer with me and start writing.
Make sure whatever is on your list, you have what you need readily available to do them straight away.
I’m wondering if there is a link between obesity and loneliness. How many obese people feel lonely, even if only perceived in their minds?
Maybe what we crave is personal interaction, and food fills this gap. We crave this personal interaction because the crazy thoughts in our head are keeping us away from other people.
Some of these thoughts may be about what you believe people think about you being obese. Some of them may be about the disparaging remarks you’ve heard about being on a diet which has lasted many years but delivered no results.
Emotional eating doesn’t allow us to feel less lonely. It is something we used to give us that boost to take our minds from being lonely.
What makes things worse is we rationalize this overeating. The more we eat, the better the excuses become for overeating.
- “I’m bored,”
- “I’m just having a quick taste.”
- “I’ll start my diet in the morning or on Monday morning.”
- “I don’t normally do this.”
- “I’ll exercise tomorrow.”
Boredom and loneliness are the worst triggers I can think of for overeating.
If you feel bad, do you eat badly?
Food for thought?
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